• The NAACP Norwich Branch and Robertsine Duncan Youth Council will host a two-part Town Hall Series themed "Strengthening Our Community, Policing and Criminal Justice System."  Part I will take place 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 and Part II will take place 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.

The plan is to hold the events with no audience participation in the Slater Auditorium at Norwich Free Academy; if unable to host an in-person event, the NAACP will hold the event virtually on Zoom. The free events will be livestreamed over the NAACP Norwich Branch's Facebook, with more information available at naacpnorwichbranch.org.

• The Black Engagement Council of Electric Boat will host a "View & Chew" from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12 featuring the film "Uncorked," streaming on Nextflix, and a discussion on Zoom. A "Jeopardy" game featuring Black History Month facts will be held in collaboration with the Drop-In Learning Center in New London from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17 via Zoom. More information is available by contacting EB_BEC@gdeb.com.

• The La Grua Center in Stonington will hold an online discussion titled "Writing, Reading and Racism: Celebrating Today's Best Mystery Writers,"  at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9. The event is $10, with more information is available at: https://lagruacenter.org/event/detail/2021/2/9/6/00/pm/690-v_crimewritersofcolor

• The Stonington Historical Society will hold via Zoom "Venture Smith in Stonington: A Family Affair" from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 11. Professors Nancy Steenburg and Elizabeth Kading will present their "research into the life of Venture Smith, and the prevalence of enslavement along the Connecticut coastline," according to an event description. Registration is required, with more information available at: https://www.stoningtonhistory.org/event/venture-smith-and-the-black-community-in-stonington/

• The Norwich Historical Society will hold a free virtual lecture at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 that "will focus on topics from the Norwich Freedom Trail." The lecture by Dr. Kerima Lewis titled "The Reign of Black Governors in Norwich, Connecticut and Beyond" "will discuss a tradition that emerged in colonial New England during the eighteenth century when enslaved Africans elected their own Kings and Governors when denied basic liberties including the right to vote," according to an event description. Pre-registration is required. To register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l2FOTq-gTMm2e9WH94j2sA.

• The Public Library of New London will feature #OwnVoices stories by Black authors and illustrators during the library's Children's Room Book talk, held at 3 p.m. Thursdays. A movie screening of "I Am Not Your Negro" will be held from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19. Information will be posted on the library's Facebook page and at www.plnl.org.

• Waterford Public Library will host via Zoom "The Roots of Black Music in America" from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20. People should register online in advance for the Zoom meeting, with more information available at www.waterfordpubliclibrary.org.

• People can visit the Town of Groton's website, www.groton-ct.gov, for upcoming activities and virtual events related to Black History Month.

• A listing of the University of Connecticut's Black History Month events is available at: https://guides.lib.uconn.edu/c.php?g=606611&p=4205872.

• East Lyme Public Library Children's and Young Adult Librarian Rebecca Scotka will be read Coretta Scott King's award-winning books during the library's daily virtual storytime Facebook posts.

The schedule is as follows: 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22: "Last Stop on Market Street," 10 a.m. Tuesday; Feb. 23: "The Moon Over Star"; 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24: "Thank You, Omu!"; 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 25: "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut" by Derrick Barnes with illustrations by Gordon C. James; and 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26: "Trombone Shorty" by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews with illustrations by Bryan Collier.

• East Lyme Public Library is holding a virtual book discussion of "The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9. More information is available at: http://www.eastlymepubliclibrary.org/book-discussions.

• The League of Women Voters of Southeastern Connecticut will hold a book discussion on Martha Jones' "Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote and Insisted on Equality for All" at 4 p.m. Feb. 22. For information on how to join, contact lwvsect15@gmail.com.

• The Lyman Allyn Art Museum will be sharing works of art by Black artists on the museum's social media platforms. An exhibition held last year has been turned into a digital exhibition: "Stories of Resilience: Encountering Racism" highlights the lives of five exceptional residents of New London County, past and present—attorney Lonnie Braxton, Rev. Florence Clarke, Sonalysts Board member Donetta Hodge, Coast Guard Commander (Ret.) Merle Smith, and 19th-century freed slave and teacher Ichabod Pease. The link for the digital exhibition is: https://www.lymanallyn.org/stories-of-resilience-encountering-racism/

• Connecticut College is planning a night of the arts honoring the Harlem Renaissance at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 via Zoom. The college's Race & Ethnicity Programs; Cadenza, the student-led poetry group on campus; and the Dean of The College's office collaborated to organize the event.

• The Otis Library in Norwich has a book display for Black

History Month that has been posted on social media.  The library also plans to host a forthcoming exhibit on Emancipation from the Gilder Lehrman Institute in conjunction with April's celebration of Harris Sisters month.

Readers can email k.drelich@theday.com to share more Black History Month events in the region.